Kristo Matson – Estonian Composers Union

Composer and teacher, ECU member since 2007
Born on 25.11.1980

Kristo Matson has studied trombone, music theory and composition (under the guidance of Katrin Aller and Mart Jaanson) in Heino Eller Tartu Music School and in the faculty of theology at the University of Tartu. In 2007, Matson graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in composition as a student of Tõnu Kõrvits, in 2009 he obtained a Master’s degree as a composition student of Helena Tulve.

From 2005 to 2007 he worked as a teacher of music theory subjects in Heino Eller Tartu Music School, 2007–2015 in Tallinn Music High School. From 2012–2015, Kristo Matson was chairman of the board and executive director of the Estonian Music Foundation. Since 2017, Matson is the Head of the Music Department of the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum. Since 2014, he organises a summer school of musical creativity for young people.

Matson’s works have been performed by Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Pärnu City Orchestra, Tartu String Quartet, violinist Urmas Vulp, cellist Aare Tammesalu, pianist Lea Leiten and others. His music has been presented at the Estonian Music Days Festival, Estonian Young Composers’ Festival, Autumn Festival of the Estonian Academy of Music and World Choir Games in China. Matson is also known as an arranger and pop musician.

Matson’s Cantus In Memoriam Malera Kasuku for symphony orchestra got the special prize at the International Lepo Sumera Composition Contest For Young Composers 2006.

Kristo Matson:
“For many, creating and understanding music is mysterious, something that can be experienced but not explicated. I’m not an exception: I like to listen, contemplate and write. Less I’ve accustomed to writing thoughts down.

I heard Finlandia for the first time in the gymnasium while I was writing a treatise about Jean Sibelius. That experience was fantastic! I listened to it again and again until I caught myself thinking: how the music is created? Back then I couldn’t answer, but I decided to take a closer look.

During the years I’ve been asking that question myself a lot, unbeknownst if it can be answered at all. Perhaps music is like an elusive miracle, happiness that can be felt and that only a few are able to describe and expound.”